Baby strap



Aug. 12, 1941. w, A, SHAW 2,252,357

BABY STRAP Filed 0G11. 14. 1940 ?Patented Aug. 12, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BABY STRAP Winifred A. Shaw, Chicago, Ill. Application October 14, 1940, Serial No. 361,125 z Clarins. '(01. 227-49) My invention relates to a strap whereby a child or baby may be properly strapped or secured in its crib or bed or in a chair or buggy without subjecting the child to improper or undue pressure while at the same time permitting necessary freedom or body movement.

The invention has for its object the provision of a strap from which accidental disengagement or release ofthe child will be impossible without, however, unduly hampering the child; the invention contemplating a strap which is free of buckles or pins and which is adjustable to size and growth of the child.

Another object of my invention is a strap which will not subject the childs waist to improper pressure but on the other hand affords full body support and permits the child to shift or move its body forwardly or from side to side, especially while in seated position.

The above enumerated objects and advantages, as well as other advantages inherent in the invention, will all be readily comprehended from the'detailed description of the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved strap in unadjusted condition with portions broken away.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a child secured in a chair by my improved strap; portions of the chair and of the child being broken away.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the back of the child and chair to illustrate the tie portions of the strap; portions of the chair being broken away.

The device may be made of any suitable cloth or soft fabric and consists of the main body portion I Il formed to extend from the waist of the child upwardly across the chest to the shoulders; the top being cut out at II to t loosely about the childs neck and allow the upper extensions I2, I2 to extend to or over the shoulders; while the sides of the body portion are tapered or arcuately cut out at I3, I3 toprovide freedom for the childs arms and permit the main portion III to extend toward thesides of the childs body and thus afford support at the sides as well as at the front of the body.

The upper extensions I2, I2 are each provided with a cloth strap or tape I I of predetermined length adapted to extend across the child's shoulders and down the back to the waist line, as shown in Figure 3: and each strap adjacent its free end is preferably provided with a plurality of loops as at I5 for a purpose hereinafter described. i

The straps I4 are intended to be arranged in the criss-cross manner shown in Figure 3 and in order that they may remain in proper position and not slip off the shoulders, one of the straps I4 on what may be termed its under side is provided with a loop I6 for passage of the other strap I4 therethrough and permit free sliding movement between the straps Il.

'I'he lower edge of the main body portion I0 is provided with a cloth strap or tape Il which may be immovably secured or sewed at I8 to the body portion I0 adjacent the vertical center line of the body portion and extends to opposite sides of the body portion and preferably with at least one end of tape I1 of length suiicient to pass through the desired loops I 5 of the shoulder straps I4 (see Figure 3) and to extend about the childs back and permit the two ends of the tape to be loosely tied together preferably at the right side of the child, as shown at I9, Figure 2.

'Ihe body portion, at its lower edge where the tape Il is secured, preferably has a V-shape dart or take-in portion at 20 so as to have the bodyportion fit properly across the abdomen of the child and thus prevent the body strap or device from creeping or slipping upwardly. This front piece or main body portion I0, asis apparent from the drawing, provides a covering and affords protection for the childs abdomen against temperature changes.

The body III at opposite sides and beneath the cut-out portions I3, I3 are shown cut at an inwardly sloping manner at 2| and provided with the V-shaped pieces of elastic 22 whose inner ends are firmly stitched to the body I0 at the bottom of the arm cut-out portions I3 and adjacent the lower waist-edge portion; and the outer ends of the elastic pieces 22 each have a tie strap 23 stitched or secured thereto. The straps 23 are of more or less length in order that they m'ay be crossed at the back of the child and at its waist-line'and be tiedabout the rear posts or rung of a chair, as shown in Figure 3.

As is apparent from the drawing, my improved baby strap involves no pins, buttons or buckles ythat may become undone or result in injuring the child, which, when properly tied, allows the child sufficient freedom 'to twist and turn with out subjecting the abdomen to improper pressure while at the same time making it impossible for the child to squirm or wiggle out of the device, as however, is the case with baby straps as heretofore constructed. When the baby is tied in a high chair the device properly supports the body in sitting position; and when used to fasten the baby on a bed it permits the bady to turn to either side due fto the sliding relation between the shoulder straps (whose criss-cross position is maintained by the loop I6 which prevents the straps M, Il slipping oft the babys shoulders) and the body strap in conjunction with the elastic connections between the tie-straps 2l and the body portion of the device.

The body member, by means of the dart 2l, shapes the waist portion to the child and prevents the member slipping upwardly and at the same time affords protection across the abdomen against temperature changes; while the V-shaped elastic connections between the tie-straps and the body member provide a distributed yielding pressure throughout the lower part of the body member which is not coniined. to the waist-line.

My improved device is adjustable to babies of different siz as well as to the babys growth, this being accomplished by passing the body strap II (which may be secured tothe lower end of the body member I or slidably held by sewing a loop at the point I8 on the rear side of the body member) through the proper loops I at the free ends of the shoulder straps i4. This permits the device to be used during a greater period of time; while its compact form enables the device to be conveniently carried in the mothers hand bag when it is desired to use the strap away from home.

'Ihe speciilc construction shown in the drawing is believed to be the best embodiment of the invention, but certain modiiications are possible and may be made without, however, departing from the spirit of my invention as dened in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A device ot the character described comprising a body member of textile material formed to extend from rthe waist to the shoulders, across the abdomen and chest; shoulder straps, secured. to the upper end of the shoulder portions, adapted to extend in criss-cross manner at the back of a baby's body down to the waist thereof and each provided with a plurality of lengthwisely spaced loops; a body strap connected intermediate its ends with the lower end of the body member adapted to extend about the babys body, through the preselected loops of the shoulder straps and the i'ree ends to be tied together; tie-straps at opposite sides of the body member whereby the child may be tied in a chair; and a V-shaped elastic means secured to the tie-straps and to the body member at the opposite sides of and adjacent the lower end of the body member.

2. A device of the character described comprising a body member formed to ex-tend from the waist to the shoulders, across the abdomen and chest of a child and having side extensions;

a pair of shoulder straps secured to the top of.

the member, adaptedl to extend in criss-cross manner at the back and down to the Waist of the child, the free ends of said straps being provided with lengthwisely spaced loops; means whereby said straps are slidably held in crisscross relation; a body strap connected with the waist portion of the body member intermediate of Ithe sides and adapted to pass about the childs body through the preselected loops of the shoulder straps; elastic means secured to the side extensions of the body member and to the waist portion thereof; and tie-straps secured to said elastic means.

WTNIFRED A. SHAW. 

